Disclaimer not mine
Snow
Morganna stared in to space, the fall of the Pen dragon dynasty had been all she had been thinking about for so long that the fact she hadn't achieved it hadn't registered with her. She knew Morguse was angry but didn't know how to put things right. There had to be a way of stopping Arthur from becoming King. She sighed and thought about Gwen. It seemed her childhood friend was destined to be her sister in law, whatever she did.
Xxxxxxxx
"So" Merlin smiled as Arthur rolled his eyes.
"So?"
"The tournament. You aren't really going to fight? Are you?"
"No Merlin, I am going to sit on the side of the arena looking like an idiot. What do you think?" He gave Merlin a lop sided smile.
"And if you get killed? What then?" Merlin watched as Arthur raised his eyebrows.
"Then I'll be dead Merlin" He laughed as Merlin shook his head.
"And Gwen? What will happen to her if you get yourself killed fighting Prince Fancy Pants of Hadrian?"
"Nothing is going to happen to her. I won't let it, not again" Arthur was beginning to get angry with him. He knew that there was no way he could ensure any of their safety.
"Arthur, you can't know that. If you take part in this stupid tournament you are leaving her exposed. If Morganna turns up" He shook his head, he knew exactly what Morganna was capable of, even if Arthur still refused to believe it.
"Oh she'll be there. I promise you both her and Morguse will be there. It's too good an opportunity to turn down. And if she thinks I won't fight this time because she's a girl she is sadly mistaken. I made that mistake once before" He ran a hand through his unruly blonde hair.
"She knows about you and Gwen" Merlin still didn't think his friend was taking the threat seriously.
"Merlin, stop panicking. Everyone and their son know about me and Guinevere. And those that don't will make things up." Arthur stared at his friend. "I've only been in love with her since I was about 12!"
"You know that, I know that, Gwen knows that. If Morganna knows that then we really have a problem." Merlin watched as Arthur looked at his feet. "You are trying to draw her out aren't you?"
"Don't be so stupid" Arthur stood on the steps of the castle as Merlin shook his head and walked away.
"Not me being stupid" Merlin muttered. He stood and walked in the opposite direction of his friend. He had to talk to Gaius.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gwen had never been the type of girl to sit idlylly by and do nothing. It just wasn't in her nature. Now her headache and vertigo had abated enough she was beginning to get annoyed with people telling her to relax and rest. Although she loved each of the men in her life dearly they were beginning to get annoying. She sighed as she began cleaning the table in front of her. Elyan had left her to visit an old family friend, while the men she considered more brothers than friends had disappeared in to the castle grounds earlier. She wondered what Sir Leon, Gwain and Merlin were up to this time, with only a few hours to the planned tournament she hoped at least one of them was trying to talk Uther in to cancelling it. There was no way Arthur would withdraw from the competition if it still went ahead.
"Ah Gwen" Gaius walked in to his chambers as she smiled.
"Hello"
"Now, what do you think you are doing young lady? You are a guest here. You do not clean" He took the cloth from her hand.
"Gaius, I am fine now. Thanks to you" He smiled at her as she stared at him "But I have to get back to normal."
"I know" He smiled. "Look, I think some fresh air would do you good. Maybe when Merlin gets back you could get him to walk with you to the castle?" He began stoking the fire in the corner. Gwen rolled her eyes. Merlin was a good friend but the last thing she wanted was for him to act as a bodyguard. She smiled slightly.
"A walk? Yes that sounds lovely. I wont be long" She was out the door before Gaius could stop her. She had to see Arthur; he had to know that the tournament would be tantamount to suicide. There was no way she could let him take part.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
"There is no sign of her?" Uther sat on his throne as Sir Leon shook his head.
"No Sire"
"Have your men checked the forest?" He turned to Arthur who nodded. Defeat was not something he liked to admit. At least in that way he was like his father.
"Yes Father" He glanced at Leon "We checked beyond the boundaries of Camelot. There is no sign of her or Morguse. I can only hope the tournament tomorrow brings her back. It is the perfect cover for her, one which I would use in her position" Leon nodded.
"She left Camelot. She chose to go." Uther sighed "How much does she hate me?"
"I believe it is not just you Father" Arthur felt sick every time he thought of his sister. She may have been the King's ward but as far as Arthur was concerned he considered her as much of a sister as if they had shared the same parents.
"Thank you Sir Leon, please be vigilant. I believe she is with some very dangerous people. Camelot itself may be in danger" Leon knew when the King was dismissing him.
"Yes Sire, thank you" He nodded to Arthur before leaving the room. Once the heavy wooden door was closed Arthur turned to his father.
"The tournament"
"Arthur, it is less than 24 hours away. It cannot be cancelled. We already have Knights from all over the isle here. It has to go ahead" Uther sighed. In truth he wanted nothing more than to cancel it.
"I know. I still intend to compete"
"I see"
"I think it will bring them here. If I withdraw from the tournament, from the joust and the sword events I think it will be seen as a sign we are afraid of her. No I must insist on taking part" He watched as his father smiled slightly before walking across to him.
"Arthur I have no doubt in your ability as a swordsman. I have watched you play at being a knight from the moment you could stand. Even then you sulked if someone took the stick from you that you used as a toy sword. I used to feel sorry for the other boys, none had the skill you did" He tapped his son on the shoulder. "But this isn't going to be a normal event. I fear Morganna will use the old magik to win. I do not believe she will play fair"
Arthur nodded as he looked his father in the eye. "Yes Sire, I don't believe she will"
"And what then?"
"The difference is, this time I have something and someone worth fighting for." Arthur held his father's gaze. Uther sighed. There was no way he could deny or prevent it any more.
"Camelot or Guinevere?"
"Both"
Arthur held his breath. It was the first time he had really acknowledged his feelings for Gwen in front of his father. He waited as Uther stared at him. His father's face was completely unreadable.
"In that case" He smiled slightly "I don't see how you can loose"
"Father?"
"Arthur, I will always put Camelot first, but I will not always be here. The only thing I will put about this Kingdom is my son. You insist on fighting tomorrow I will not stop you. And I see now that you choose the tournament for the right reasons. If Morganna does return tomorrow then I just hope we are all ready" He stepped back as Arthur smiled.
"Yes, we will be"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gwen stood outside the castle as the sky opened. The snow that gently began to fall caused the children to run in to the courtyard to play. Gwen laughed, remembering a time when she would have run out with Elyan and the others to play in the snow. It was then she saw Arthur walk down the outside steps of the castle. She could help the smile that crept across her face. He spotted her and quickened his pace to reach her.
"Gwen!"
"Sire" She smiled as he rolled his eyes.
"Don't call me that" He pulled her in to his arms "I spoke to my father"
"Oh" She smiled as her arms rested on his shoulders. He returned the smile.
"I will fight tomorrow"
"Arthur" She sighed, suddenly worried. The snow was beginning to settle on the ground at her feet but she didn't feel cold.
"I'll be fine" He tightened his hold on her "After all I have you to come back to" Gwen blushed as he kissed her. The three children trying to catch snow on their faces turned and laughed as they saw the prince kiss the blacksmith's daughter. None were aware of the dark haired woman watching from the shadows.
A/N Thank you for reading. And thank you for all the reviews, this is actually probably one of my favourite stories that I have written. More soon, please let me know that you think.
